Writing a Homeschool Music Curriculum
After a year and a half spent creating my first homeschool music curriculum, I’m returning to this littler corner of the internet to share the story behind Living with the Muses and the deeply personal letter that opens its pages.
Hello—long time readers! It has been a while since I have written here on my blog. We have a new name—Musings, and I couldn’t be more excited to start writing here again. The better part of a year and a half has been spent writing my first homeschool music curriculum, and now that I am on the other side and have a finished curriculum in my hands, I find myself constantly flipping through the pages in amazement. I don’t say this to boast, because truly, a huge part of this feels so surreal. I look incredulously at the finished book, and I have to say, I am so proud I could burst. Even if only a few families ever purchase and I don't retire on a Greek isle from sales ;) I can honestly say that I would do it over again, because the feeling I feel, and the excitement at the connections I made throughout writing this curriculum are worth every ounce of sleep I gave up writing into the night and early morning.
It started out as me scribbling ideas and thoughts in my little notebook beside homeschool lessons plans and endless to-do lists that never get done. I had been giving a lot of thought about how I wanted to teach my eldest the subject of music in a more formal way, now that he was in first grade. It was so exciting to see him grasp deeper concepts over the past year, and become truly interested in learning. I thought it was now time to start teaching music theory, as he had been learning music strictly through an aural and kinesthetic approach up to that point. I had not yet started teaching him to read music—and that was on purpose. As I started digging deeper into how I wanted him to learn—which was totally different than how I had learned—I kept coming back to how music is really integrated with everything else. I’ve always loved reading about Ancient Greece and its ideas about education. I slowly started ruminating on all of this, and I was begin to see that everything I loved about different educational philosophies could usually be traced back to Ancient Greece and its ideas.
“He who has a taste for every sort of knowledge, and who is curious to learn and is never satisfied, may be justly termed a philosopher.”
—Plato, The Republic
I also luckily chose a Godfather for my youngest son who reads and speaks fluent Ancient Greek, Latin and many other languages. He is one of the most intelligent, humble and kind people I know, and I feel that I could pick his brain endlessly. He has given me so much food for thought over the years, and I am always in awe of his genuine love of knowledge and learning. He is exactly the kind of person I hope my children will emulate and who I aspire to be like, though I fear I would need to live a thousand years to get even remotely in the same sphere as him. You will see him carry a new (often old) book to Mass every Sunday—Socrates (in Greek!), poems by T.S. Eliot, you name it. He probably does not know this, but he inspired this curriculum in many ways. His love of learning, reading all forms of literature, art, music and making connections across subjects has inspired me beyond measure. So this curriculum is, in many ways, my attempt to pass on what he embodies: a genuine love of learning and the beautiful fruit of a true liberal arts education.
With that said, I thought I would share the opening letter from my new homeschool music curriculum, Living with the Muses. I wrote the letter when I was in the throes of learning new Adobe software, with my sweet little baby in her carrier on my chest and so many emotions coursing through me. I struggled to find the words to express everything this curriculum is to me and everything I hope it will be to many families. It’s so incredibly personal to me, and with every email, comment and message that comes my way celebrating my vision, I do a happy dance wherever I am and blink eyes rapidly that seem to well up without regard to where I may be at the time.
Without further ado, my letter to the families who purchased Living with the Muses, Volume I.
Dear Families,
I never dreamed I would one day publish my own music curriculum and it certainly was not something I imagined I would be able to accomplish in this season of motherhood. Between mothering a new baby and three sons, homeschooling, my business and juggling social media, I think I have a strong dash of delusion to thank for taking this on. Of course it goes without saying, none of this would be possible without my unicorn of a husband who took over doing dinner and dishes for months on end.
If the past eight years have taught me anything, it is that motherhood has a way of changing us for the better. It stretches us creatively, emboldens us and strengthens us if we allow it. Things you never thought possible become not only possible, but necessary, because they are for your children. So here I am with a two month old baby snoozing on my chest and imaginary battles being played out at the highest decibel levels in the living room as I type away, hoping beyond measure that what I have created is beautiful and inspired.
The idea for Magical Music Method was born when I was pregnant with my first child. I wanted my children to know music the same way they learned to speak, naturally, joyfully and as an ordinary part of everyday family life. I wanted music to be something they lived with and that would cultivate their own love of beauty. As my children grew, so did that vision. When my eldest reached grade school I found myself asking, ‘What comes next?’
This curriculum is my answer. As I was writing over the course of the past year, I had written down An Integrated Music Curriculum as the working title of this project. It sounded boring, but I thought it was pretty accurate. I’m not teaching ‘Music Appreciation’, or just ‘Music History’, nor am I just teaching ‘Music Theory’, rather I am teaching music through the entire lens of the arts. Like the ancient Greeks! The Greeks believed in the nine muses, each intrinsically linked to music. It would be unimaginable in ancient Greece to learn music without learning poetry, and learn history without song, and to study astronomy without acknowledging the mathematical harmony of the universe. That was when it hit me – Living with the Muses. As soon as I thought of it, I knew that was it. I had nailed my entire music philosophy in one title. Afterall, the word music comes directly from the ancient Greek word, mousikē, meaning, art of the Muses. At the risk of sounding like the Dad from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” I’ll digress, but I think you may start to see the underpinning philosophy behind Living with the Muses.
This first volume is part of a three-volume course of study for Grades 1—6, that is meant to be lived with and revisited over and over again. Here your family will learn music, art, poetry and song together. Thank you for welcoming my curriculum into your home. I am deeply grateful that you entrusted me to share with you–mousikē.
With gratitude,
Veronica
If you made it to the end of this, thank you so much for being here. Every share, comment and purchase helps me continue the crazy endeavor of creating content that often feels like throwing a teaspoon of water into the expanse of the sea.
As a token of my gratitude, please leave a comment with your own musing and include, if you like, “I would love a hardcopy of the homeschool music curriculum." I will choose one reader at random on September 10, 2026 @10:00PM EST and send them a hard copy of my curriculum.
Teaching Kids to Knit with Song
Everything you need to learn how to teach your child to knit using song and verse.
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I first learned to knit when I was eight years old. I often used to spend extra time after school, waiting for my older siblings to be finished, as my older sister was the one who drove us to and from school.
Most of my teachers were Catholic nuns as I went to a small Catholic school in New York. I still have this very distinct memory of sitting at my desk watching Sr. Mary Peter knit, who was my adult supervision on this particular day, until it was time for me to leave. She was working on a stuffed panda bear. I remember walking up to her desk to watch more closely, completely fascinated.
She noticed my interest and offered to show me how to knit right away. She gave me a pair of needles, cast on the first row and then showed me the knit stitch. She did it like it was the easiest thing in the world. I am forever grateful to her. She was so kind and willing to share her expertise.
I recently got the pleasure of talking with her in person again last summer, to only find out she had suffered a stroke and was not able to knit anymore. I almost wanted to cry, because I knew how much she loved knitting. Her passion for the craft exuded from her. She was always knitting something when I knew her as a child.
I told her that I still knit, albeit still very much an amateur, and that it was all thanks to her. Her eyes lit up and she began reminiscing about all the things she had made in her youth. Aran sweaters, stuffed animals, blankets, knit clothes…you name it. She even told me how she could knit and read a book simultaneously. A few weeks later after this conversation, I again had the pleasure of talking with Sister and this time she had brought a whole binder of patterns to share with me. Many of them out of print patterns of stuffed toys I could knit for my children. Just to show you the type of person Sister is, she had shared how she had contacted the creator of the patterns and emailed if she could share the patterns with others since all of them were out of print and hard to find. The creator happily shared her consent.
I am reminded of the generosity of creative kind people and strive to, at least in my small way, share ways we can connect with our children and others and share the joy of creating.
Music and creating (in all its forms) are truly the basis of what makes us all human. The innate desire to want to create beauty.
If you have ever wanted to learn to knit or want to teach your child, I hope that these simple little sung verses will add some beauty to your journey. And I promise that you and your child will never forget to knit and purl once you have put the stitches to song. Because musical memory is the most long lasting.
Holistic Music Learning
There was a time when children learned skills and knowledge through music and song. Generations ago it was understood that if you wanted children to remember something, then it should be learned with song. Want them to remember the alphabet? Sing it. Want them to remember their times tables? Sing it. Want them to remember how to tie their shoe? Sing it.
The well known “Pop Goes the Weasel” was a song that was rooted in the textiles trade when children were expected to help with the adult work. The song helped make the work more enjoyable, easier and more memorable. There are countless more examples where we see the wisdom of generations past in harnessing the power of music.
Combing song with handwork like knitting, is the quintessential example of holistic music learning. Children learn music because of the movements, and remember the movements because of the music. It is how children learn best, because learning is not happening in isolation. It is literally woven into life.
Video Tutorials
Favorite Supplies to Begin Knitting with Young Children
When it comes to teaching a fine motor skill, like knitting with needles, the right supplies are essential to making it easy for young children. Needles that are too long or too skinny or too slippery can make the experience frustrating for young hands. The needles and yarn that I am using in the videos are what my 7 year old son is learning with and it has made it such a cinch for him. The needles are a perfect size in his hands and the yarn does not slip off the needles!
I recommend these needles in a size US 8 (5 mm). They are very grippy so that the wool does not slip off the needles. Perfection! And your purchase is supporting a small mom owned shop in Maine.
This yarn is a soft pure virgin wool that is ideal in size for the above needles. It feels lovely to the touch and is so easy to manage on the needles because of its size and texture. Highly recommend! And again your purchase supports a small mom owned shop in Maine.
This is a great little book that I found first at the library and loved it so much I purchased a copy to have. It has lovely little projects, ideas and tips for knitting with children.
If you enjoy my content, please consider sharing my new YouTube channel with your friends and families. It would mean so much to me and my family. I think once I get to 1,000 subscribers I can monetize and help support my family even more. Thank you, thank you, thank you!